Super Tornadoes

[Jacob Ferden]

I vote for taking a Stormtrack group field trip to Bangladesh next year

Seriously, I think to say that such an event is "impossible" is foolish. Is it likely? No. Will it happen in my lifetime? Probably not. Has it happened before, or will it happen again? No one knows, of course.

But given we have mobile radar readings in excess of 300 mph from May 3, 1999, when you consider the INCREDIBLY short period of time, relatively speaking, that the technology has even existed...I wont say anything is impossible...I don't see why 350 mph would be that much of a stretch over 300 mph. Now, as far as 400 +, that's a different question, because that's far removed from what has been documented. But I still won't say it's impossible.

One interesting thing that someone could do would be to take the environment as the 5/3/99 tornado was passing near Bridge Creek, and extrapolate what degree of "atmospheric enhancement", for want of a better description, it would have taken to achieve wind speeds in those higher ranges. I wish I was smart enough to do it.

 

[DNewman]

One interesting thing that someone could do would be to take the environment as the 5/3/99 tornado was passing near Bridge Creek, and extrapolate what degree of "atmospheric enhancement", for want of a better description, it would have taken to achieve wind speeds in those higher ranges. I wish I was smart enough to do it.

That would actually be a great research project for meteorologists to do.Its always gud to think outside the box,even if it does seen a bit extreme.

Seriously, I think to say that such an event is "impossible" is foolish. Is it likely? No. Will it happen in my lifetime? Probably not. Has it happened before, or will it happen again? No one knows, of course.
But given we have mobile radar readings in excess of 300 mph from May 3, 1999, when you consider the INCREDIBLY short period of time, relatively speaking, that the technology has even existed...I wont say anything is impossible...I don't see why 350 mph would be that much of a stretch over 300 mph. Now, as far as 400 +, that's a different question, because that's far removed from what has been documented. But I still won't say it's impossible.

And unfortunately it's the past tornadoes that no one has ever seen or heard of that is a mere mystery. Who knows what winds a single tornado could have accomplished in the middle if nowhere in the 1800s for example. Mabey sometime in the near future someone could invent something that is capable of measuring ground winds within a tornado by capturing the violent motion within the tornado itself, and/or by how fast the debri is flying within the tornado.
That kind of techo. I know is way far fetched, by mabey by the time I'm old,who knows what new advancements well have since new advanced techno. cones out every year.

 

[Jeff Wright]

The so called hypercane would require a big volcanic plume or comet impact to generate a lot of heat:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypercane

 

[Shawn Schuman]

Since this came up as a topic earlier, I figured I'd add some of the damage photos from the Bangladesh tornadoes that I forgot to include. It's really hard to comprehend the human toll of these tornadoes.

26 April 1989 - Daulatpur–Saturia tornado (deadliest tornado in world history)

A collapsed food storage facility in Saturia:

Note the debarked and denuded trees in the background:

"Downtown" Dhaka:

Searching for survivors/bodies:

13 May 1996 - Gopalpur tornado (700+ deaths)

Survivors salvaging tin to try and rebuild shelters:

 

[Jeff Wright]

With the heat near volcanoes, I'd like to see some drone flights near some of those plume vortices--or near any severe weather that coincides with a firestorm...

 

[Brian R]

is it likely that the US will see a "super tornado"? probably not but to say that the US will never see one is like saying it will never snow again… the way the storms are getting more severe both by natural means and the US government experimenting with weather modification, I would say it is possible but highly unlikely that we will ever see one in our lifetime.

 

[rdale]

Again there is no such thing as a super tornado, so it's hard to say we can/cannot ever get one. They don't exist

 

[Shawn Schuman]

is it likely that the US will see a "super tornado"? probably not but to say that the US will never see one is like saying it will never snow again… the way the storms are getting more severe both by natural means and the US government experimenting with weather modification, I would say it is possible but highly unlikely that we will ever see one in our lifetime.

Oh, this should be interesting. You seem pretty certain of the bolded statement, Brian. Could you explain what led you to these conclusions, please? Also, to Rob's point, what would you consider a "super" tornado? Is there a particular threshold a tornado has to be crossed before it attains the mythical "super" label? In other words, how will we know when we see one?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[John Olexa]

...They don't exist

At least not in modern times. Who knows 200, 300, 400 years ago.

 

[Raymond Mason]

Well, if a "super tornado" ever happens, I hope its an open field and not near any cities or towns. My position on them is like most "highly unlikely". It might of happened in the past with dinosaurs when the atmosphere was thicker. If it ever happens we can blame it on global warming, only kidding.

Does it really matter? 255 miles per hour winds, 500, one mile or five; either way you don't want to get in the way of it. If it does happen I hope you are the first to see it ^_^

 

[Adam R Davis]

Well, if a "super tornado" ever happens, I hope its an open field and not near any cities or towns. My position on them is like most "highly unlikely". It might of happened in the past with dinosaurs when the atmosphere was thicker. If it ever happens we can blame it on global warming, only kidding.

Does it really matter? 255 miles per hour winds, 500, one mile or five; either way you don't want to get in the way of it. If it does happen I hope you are the first to see it ^_^

According to the bevy of superstorm shockumentaries that I've seen over the years, the only place a super tornado can happen is in the Dallas metro.

 

[Shawn Schuman]

According to the bevy of superstorm shockumentaries that I've seen over the years, the only place a super tornado can happen is in the Dallas metro.

Correct, and television as a medium is well known as a paragon of accuracy.

Watch video >

Poor Dallas.

 

[Raymond Mason]

Correct, and television as a medium is well known as a paragon of accuracy.

15:00 - Does Reed Timmer know they used "his footage" showing a REAL house being destroyed, being used for entertainment?


At this point I stopped watching the video. I don't appreciate them showing a real house being destroyed for peoples amusement. Someone lost their house and memories because of it.

They should of at LEAST made their own house and a fake tornado hitting it. Guess all the money went to the tornado going through Dallas scene. They couldn't spend the extra money to do that, might of had to file bankruptcy.

What makes this different from all the other footage showing houses being destroyed by tornadoes? They don't use it for purely entertainment purposes only. Also, until it is confirmed, I am going to assume they took that footage without permission.

 

[Jeff Wright]

A hypercane might exist following a meteor strike or volcanic plume. If a nuke were shot off right under a nuclear cap to really get something going...